Interesting article and interesting that the University is putting a value on the work. I have just received an e-mail saying that as coppicing is now viable as we can get firewood out of overstood coppice (type unspecified) we won't be getting grants in the future. The result of this will be that coppice will not be restored, the woodland floor will not be opened up, flowers will not start again, and the slight revival in woodland butterflies and birds will stagnate and die. If a value was put on the actual conservation work done in the coppice, the amount paid would be a lot more than the amount paid in the old EWGS.
in terms of flood control coppiced "wet feet"trees on some flood plain/upland stream valleys areas might be a jolly good idea in combination with well managed meadows.
crops,wildlife and less insurance claims/premiums seem better than canalising rivers and building huge levees
im not sure hoe land owners could be persuaded to grow coppice ,keep beevers etc in upland catchment areas ,cash might work quite well,but using such means would reduce flash flooding a lot.